AIM To study the hepato-protection of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), one of glucosinolate compounds in cruciferous vegetables, on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS Ethanol 50 mmol?L -1 was used to induce hepatotoxicity in precision liver-cut slices of rats. The release of glutamic pyruvic transaminase(GTP), glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) into culture medium, and aniline hydroxylase (ANH) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in cytosol of hepatocytes in the precision liver-cut were measured with different doses of I3C. The histopathological observation of liver slices was also done to evaluate the effect of I3C. RESULTS The release of GTP, GOT, GST and LDH in the medium increased significantly when the slices were treated with 50 mmol?L -1 ethanol for 4 h. I3C at concentrations of 100～400 ?mol?L -1 effectively reduced the release of GTP, GOT, GST and LDH in the medium of ethanol-treated slices. Meanwhile, the activities of cytosol ANH and ADH decreased to the normal levels. The histopathological changes of liver slices induced by ethanol were lessened by I3C treatment. CONCLUSION I3C can markedly protect rat liver slices from ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity, which partly results from the change of ethanol metabolism in liver.

Animals ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy

BACKGROUND: Akt gene plays an important role in cell survival, proliferation, metabolism, and apoptosis. Although mechanism of Akt gene still remains unclear, it, a major element of survival signal, has aroused much attention in the domain of molecular biological research. OBJECTIVE: To construct eukaryotic expression vector pDC316-Akt1 for Aktl gene and to observe the expression in 293 cells. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An observational study was performed at Molecular Biological Laboratory of Academy of Military Medical Sciences of Chinese PLA between September and December 2006. MATERIALS: pCD316 plasmid was provided by Benyuan Zhengyang Company; DH5α and 293 cells were reserved in our laboratory. METHODS: Aktl DNA segment was cloned from total RNA of hepatic tissue using RT-PCR and inserted into eukaryotic expressing vector pDC316 between EcoRI and Hind Ⅲ sites after sequencing. And then, 293 cells were transfected with the recombinant by liposome. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Aktl gene content in transfected 293 cells using Westem blotting. RESULTS: Sequencing test indicated that Aktl amino acid sequence was in accordance with wild Aktl sequence. Akt-pDC316 was transcripted in 293 cells, and Akt1 protein with relative molecular weight of 55 000 was highly expressed in 293 cells when assayed using Western blotting. CONCLUSION: Eukaryotic expression vector for Aktl gene highly expresses in 293 cells.

Objective: To investigate the effects of fucoidan on proliferation and apoptosis of breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 and the underlying mechanism. Methods: Cell viability was measured by MTF assay. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 staining and agarose gel electrophoresis. The mRNA and protein expression of bcl-2 and bax were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Results: Fucoidan effectively inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner (P <0.01). Fucoidan induced significant apoptosis of MCF-7 cells characterized by fragmented DNA ladder. Fucoidan down-regulated the expression of bcl-2 and up-regulated bax at mRNA and protein levels. The ratio of bcl-2 to bax decreased with the increase in the fucoidan concentrations (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Fucoidan inhibites the proliferation and induced the apoptosis of MCF-7 cells. The underlying mechanism may be related with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic protein bcl-2 and up-regulation of apoptotic protein bax.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have demonstrated that transplanted neural stem cells can survive and proliferate in the brain of Alzheimer disease(AD)rats,however,it is poorly understood whether it can rebuild the nerve tracts by substituting the injured or dead neurons and improve learning and memory abilities.Synaptophysin is one of the important markers of synaptic rebuilding.OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of neural stem cell transplantation on synaptophysin expression in hippocampus and learning and memory abilities of AD rats.METHODS:Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control,AD model,2-week-transplantation and 4-week-transplantation groups.All rats were established AD models except that in the normal control group.Neural stem cells were isolated from the dentate gyrus of hippocampus of newborn rats,labeled with Hoechst33258,and then transplanted into CA1 region of hippocampus of rats in the 2-week-transplantation and 4-week-transplantation groups.The behavioral testing in the rats was performed using Y-maze trial.Nissl staining and synaptophysin immunohistochemistry were detected after the rats were sacrificed.The same volume of stroke-physiological saline solution was injected into rats in the AD models group using the identical methods.There was no treatment in the normal control group.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:①The cells number in the hippocampal CA1 region of the 2-week-transplantation and 4-week-transplantation groups were increased than that of AD model group,but were still less than that of the normal control group(P ＜ 0.05).There was no significantly difference between the absorbance values of 2-or 4-week-transplantation group and control group(P ＞ 0.05).②The absorbance values of the 2-week-transplantation and 4-week-transplantation were significantly greater than that of the control and AD model groups(P ＜ 0.05).③The learning and memory abilities in 2-and 4-week-transplantation group enhanced obviously and their correct reaction rates improved evidently,which was found statistically significant difference from AD model group(P ＜ 0.05),while no statistically significant difference from control group(P ＞ 0.05).The transplanted neural stem cells may promote the synaptic rebuilding and improve learning and memory abilities in AD rats.

1.0～(?)1.5 cm(14.81%)(P=0.10).There was no lymph node metastasis in tumors less than 1.0 cm in diameter. The 5-year survival rates for cases with or without lymph node involvement were 92.31% and 60.0%,respectively,the difference was significant(P=0.000).The 5-year survival rates of 12 patients showing ground-glass opacity(GGO)on chest CT was 91.67% without any lymph node involvement.Conclusions:There is mediastinal and hilar lymph node involvement even with tumor diameter less than 2 cm.The results of the present study suggested that routine lymph node dissection is necessary even for cases with tumor diameter less than 2 cm.However,if the tumor is within 1.0 cm in diameter with obvious GGO showing on chest CT,these are good candidates for partial resection without mediastinal lymph node dissection.

Several biological characteristics of stem cell such as self-renewal and multi-direc tional differentiation,makes stem cell therapy obtain better clinical efficacy in the treatment of many refractory diseases,Even some of the incurable disease in the treatment of the disease.Stem cell therapy showes a good prospect,brings the clinicians and patients in despair with confidence and hopesometimes.This article introduced the stem cell treatment policy,the management system and the present situation in domestic and foreign,pointed out the main problems of stem cell therapy in china and discussed on the dispute of stem cell therapy in scientific research management and clinical application in China.

Methods of ELISA, nonradioactive molecular hybridiz ation and RT-PCR were applied in the detection of rice grassy stunt virus (RGSV ). The detection sensitivity of indirect ELISA using antiserum against fusion p rotein GST-NC was 1 mg of infected leaves or 84 ng of purified virus. The metho d of dot hybridization using NC, a DIG-labelled DNA probe was 50 μg diseased l e aves, or 6 ng purified preparations. The detection endpoint of RT-PCR was 10 μg diseased leaves, or 2 ng purified virus preparation. Comparisons of sensitivit y and maneuverability were made among these methods.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of different acupoint combination on prevention and treatment of stress gastric ulcer and to search for a better acupoint combination.

METHODSThe theoretical basis and experimental research on treatment of stomach diseases with the combination of he-(sea) points and front-mu points as well as back-shu points and front-mu points are analyzed in this article.

RESULTSThe combination of he-sea points and front-mu points is suitable to be applied on acute diseases, febrile diseases and diseases of fu organs. While the combination of back-shu points and front-mu points is more applicable on chronic gastric diseases.

CONCLUSIONIt is proved that the combination of he-sea point (Zusanli ST 36) and front-mu point (Zhongwan CV 12) has reliable effect on prevention and treatment of stress gastric ulcer.

Apoptosis ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression ; Gene Silencing ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics